Busy as I am every day, I always open my computer and check my email. Most of the time I am simply doing finger exercises, another form of piano practice without beautiful tones. Sometimes, however, I receive a gift, reminding me of the gifts in my life. The following passage is one of those gifts.
Peter Jones is a 92-year-old, short, calm and proud man. Every morning he is fully dressed by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably combed and face perfectly shaved even though hi is unable to see anything. He would move to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years old has recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After hours of waiting patiently in the entrance hall of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he moved his walking stick skillfully to the elevator, the nurse provided a visual description of his tiny room. “I love it,” he stated with enthusiasm. “Mr. Jones, you haven’t been the room,” said the nurse.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged…it’s how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed complaining of the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.”
Each day is a gift, and as long as we are alive. We’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories we’ve stored just as Mr. Jones does.What do we know about Mr. Jones ?
| A．He is a blind but very neat. |
| B．His wife died many years ago. |
| C．He likes playing the piano. |
| D．His room in the nursing home is big. |
How did Mr. Jones feel about his room in the nursing home?
| A．worried | B．curious | C．disappointed | D．content |
The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to ________.
| A．the furniture | B．the room | C．a decision | D．a gift |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Each Day is a Gift | B．Be Always Grateful |
| C．Living in a nursing room | D．Arrange Your Mind Every Day |
A typical① Chinese Internet user is a young male who prefers instant messaging to e-mail, seldom makes online purchases② and favors news, music and games sites. According to a study, about two-thirds of survey participants③ use the Internet for news — often entertainment-related — or for online games. About half download music and movies.
They also tend to prefer instant messaging to e-mail, and they are depending on the Internet more frequently than before to communicate with others who have the same professions, hobbies and political interests. Online purchases still remain unpopular in China. Three-quarters of users surveyed have never bought anything over the Internet, and only 10 percent make purchases even once a month. Among those who do buy online, most pay for entertainment while others buy phone cards, or computer hardware or software.
“Many people don’t trust the quality of goods bought online,” Guo said Wednesday. “If they buy it in a store and don’t like it, they can easily bring it back.”
The survey was done in five major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Changsha. Results do not necessarily project countrywide because Internet use in rural areas is lower than in cities. Guo describes the typical netizen④ in the five cities surveyed as young, male, richer and more highly educated. Males make up two-thirds of the Internet community, and more than 80 percent of users are under 24. Among people ages 25 to 29, 60 percent to 80 percent go online.
China has more than 100 million people online, second in the world to the United States.
Notes:
① typical adj. 典型的
② purchase n. / v. 购买
③ participant n. 参与者
④ netizen n. 网民
Choose the best answers according to the above:
A typical Chinese Internet user will be the one who _________.
| A．likes to send e-mails | B．likes to buy goods online |
| C．likes to pay for entertainment | D．likes the games sites |
Online purchases still remain unpopular in China mainly because _________.
| A．it is more difficult for sales returns |
| B．people haven’t computers |
| C．people can’t have a look at the goods |
| D．goods bought online are of low quality |
Which of the following words fails to describe the typical netizens in the five cities?
| A．well educated | B．richer | C．female | D．young |
According to the text, which of the following shows the right relation between online people and their ages?
A． |
B． |
C． |
D． |
Japanese scientists have taken the first photographs of one of the most mysterious creatures in the deep ocean — the giant squid①.
Until now the only information about the behavior of the creatures which measure up to 18 meters (59 feet) in length has been based on dead or dying squid washed up on shore or captured②in commercial fishing nets.
But Tsunemi Kubodera, of the National Science Museum, and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association, both in Tokyo have captured the first images of Architeuthis attacking bait③900 meters below the surface in the cold, dark waters of the North Pacific. “We show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment,” they said in a report in the journal Proceedings B of the Royal Society.
Little is known about the creatures because it has been so difficult to locate and study them alive. Large ships and specialist equipment, which is costly, are needed to study deep sea environments.
The Japanese scientists found the squid by following sperm whales, the most effective hunters of giant squid, as they gathered to feed between September and December in the deep waters off the coast of the Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific. They used a remote long-line camera and depth logging system to capture the giant squid in the ocean depths.
The most dramatic character of giant squids is the pair of extremely long tentacles④, distinct from the eight shorter arms. The long tentacles make up to two-thirds of the length of the dead specimens⑤to date. The giant squid appear to be a much more active meat-eating animals than researchers had thought.
Notes:
① squid n. 鱿鱼
② capture vt. 捕获
① bait n. 鱼饵
② tentacle n. 触角，触须
③ specimen n. 标本，样本The passage mainly tells us that ________.
| A．Scientists captured a giant squid alive |
| B．Scientists captured a giant squid on camera |
| C．giant squids are special meat-eating animals |
| D．giant squids mainly live in the deep sea |
According to the passage, we can infer that the word “Architeuthis” should refer to ________.
| A．a scientist | B．the sperm whale | C．a big ship | D．the giant squid |
Which of the following about giant squids is TRUE?
| A．They like living the cold and deep waters. |
| B．They mainly feed on the dead fish. |
| C．They like playing, using their tentacles. |
| D．They have only eight arms around the mouth. |
According to the passage, the scientists located the giant squid ________.
| A．through a remote long-line camera |
| B．by using depth logging system |
| C．by following sperm whales |
| D．by using the bait to attract them |
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. |
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said that he planned to give away almost all of his vast① fortune, largely to the cause of global health, during the course of his lifetime. With an estimated②worth of more than $ 40 billion, according to Forbes, the project will be no small feat③for Gates. Having already provided the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with $ 24 billion to address global health issues, Gates said that eventually his entire fortune will be put towards the cause except “a few percent left for the kids.”
So what has made the richest man in the world to channel his resources so heavily into one interest? Gates believes that “the equality of opportunity” in which Americans take such pride needs to extend to other nations around the world. Improving the health of the populations, he says, has proven to be an essential method in helping poor countries to be financially④ successful. “National borders allow inequalities,” said Gates, “We all need to take a more global view, rather than just saying my country is doing well. We have to step up these health issues, knowing how few resources are going into them.”
Gates said that both his parents set good examples to him as a child. His father, William H. Gates, was the head of the local Planned Parenthood, and his mother, Mary, volunteered for the United Way. As he gathered his fortune, Gates knew he would eventually want to give back as well, but he didn’t expect to devote himself whole-heartedly to one project until he was about 60.
However, Gates, 47, began to question his ability to wait that long. “It seemed there was a real time urgency,” Gates said, “I started to think, how many lives could I save before then?”
Notes:
① vast adj. 巨额的
② estimate v. 估计，估价
③ feat n. 功绩，壮举
④ financially adv. 财政上，金融上
Choose the best answers according to the above: Why will Bill Gates give away his vast fortune?
| A．to improve the health of population in America alone |
| B．to improve the health of population all over the world |
| C．to avoid leaving his children too much money |
| D．to spare the American government the burden of health care |
According to the passage, which of the following is right?
| A．Americans should care about people in other countries |
| B．Americans should treat fellow citizens well |
| C．Americans should devote themselves to certain projects |
| D．Americans can be world-famous by giving away vast fortune |
Bill Gates gave away his vast fortune earlier than he had expected because of __.
| A．his weakening health condition |
| B．his parents’ suggestions |
| C．his great success in business |
| D．his concerns for suffering people |
According to the passage, which word can be used to describe Bill Gates?
| A．brave | B．kind-hearted | C．strong-minded | D．confident |
It’s no surprise why Kung Fu Hustle is the top-grossing①homegrown movie in Hong Kong. Hustle’s approach to a simple good-against-evil plot is extremely cheerful.
Humor bordering on slapstick combined with exciting choreography②by Yuen Wo Ping, who masterminded③the fight scenes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix, make Kung Fu Hustle a lively, visual treat.
There is plenty of violence, but it’s largely cartoonish. Stephen Chow wrote, directed, produced and stars in this non-stop action movie, which is in Cantonese with English subtitles④.
Chow plays Sing, an eager young man who longs to be a member of the powerful and cruel Axe Gang. When gang members appear on the scene, sometimes dancing with their frightening axes in hand, the sky breaks out with fireworks. The sets are shocking, with classic cars lining the neon-lighted streets and gambling casinos⑤serving as the backdrop to the underworld activities. All these give off the sensation of Old West shootouts.
One neighborhood is blessedly away from the disorder. Pig Sty Alley is so poverty-stricken it holds no interest for the Axe Gang. Then in wanders the unlucky Sing, who attempts to get money there. But folks are not what they seem: The town is full of kung fu masters.
Sing tries to single out someone he can fight, but it seems as if everyone, elderly and very young alike, has a body like Charles Atlas. During the time, Sing calls upon the Axe Gang, which faces off against the people of Pig Sty Alley, led by the town’ s landlords, the powerful lady in curlers and her husband. Fans of kung fu movies will have a rip-roaring time, but even moviegoers are sure to enjoy spirited action of Kung Fu Hustle.
Notes:
① top-grossing adj. 票房收入最高的
② choreography n. 舞蹈术
③ mastermind vt. 策划
④ subtitle n. 说明对白的字幕
⑤ gambling casino 赌博场Which of the following characters does the passage mainly describe?
| A．Stephen Chow | B．Yuen Wo Ping | C．Sing | D．Charles Atlas |
Kung Fu Hustle becomes the top-grossing homegrown movie in Hong Kong because _______.
A. it is full of humor and exciting action B. it is full of cartoonish characters
B. it is mainly made up of dance D. it is a non-stop action movie Which of the following about the Axe Gang is TRUE?
| A．The Axe Gang is popular with fans of kung fu movies. |
| B．The Axe Gang is always easy do good things. |
| C．The Axe Gang doesn’t know how to use guns. |
| D．The Axe Gang often fights against its enemy using the axes. |
In which part are you likely to find it if the passage appears in the web site?
| A．Entertainment. | B．Travel. | C．News. | D．Books. |
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