A NATIONWIDE BESTSELLER
It’s likely that everything you learned about America’s ancient history is wrong.
The new book,1491, completely changes our understanding of the America before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.
DID YOU KNOW?
When Columbus landed there were probably more people in the Americas than there were in Europe.
The peoples of North America had such healthy life-styles that as late as the 19th century they continued to be the tallest people on earth.
Facts have shown that the Americas were populated as long as 33,000 years ago. 4,000 years ago Mesoamerican farmers developed corn in a feat (技艺) of genetic engineering that still isn’t completely understood.
COMMENTS ON 1491
“In the tradition of Jared Diamond & John MePhee, a totally new view of pre-Columbian America”.
－Richard Rhodes
“Attractively written and really absorbing, Charles C.Mann has produced a book that’s part detective story, part epic(史诗) and part tragedy(悲剧). He has taken on a vast topic: thousands of years, two huge continents, and cultures.”
－Charles Matthews,San Jese Mercary News
“Powerful and challenging”
－Alan Taylor,Washingto post
“A pleasure to read as well as a wonderful education”
－Howard ZinnOn the whole,1491 is a book mainly about America’s________.
| A．life-styles | B．population | C．history | D．agriculture |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the comments on the book 1491?
| A．It is interesting and instructive. |
| B．It is attractive and culturally related. |
| C．It is challenging and revolutionary. |
| D．It is humorous and persuasive |
From this passage, we can learn_________.
| A．people settled in the America a little earlier than 1492 |
| B．North Americans were the tallest in the 18th century in the world |
| C．Mesoamencan farmers knew genetic engineering 5,000 years ago |
| D．the population in the Americas was smaller than that in Europe in 1492 |
Today was a big day for my eldest son, Kevin. He had his first big boy haircut. Before today, we have always stood by his side, told the hairdresser what to do and watched over the whole thing. We’ve been working on the rewards (奖赏) of responsibility with my son for quite some time. Today, he got one of those rewards by having his own haircut.
When they arrived at the shop, his father showed him a book with lots of styles of haircuts for boys. After he made his choice, he waited patiently for his turn. My husband decided he would get his own hair cut at the same time.
When their names were called, Kevin showed the hairdresser the picture of his chosen haircut, which, thankfully, was not a strange haircut. The hairdresser looked to my husband for approval (批准) and he told her his son was in charge.
During his haircut, Kevin talked happily with the hairdresser. My husband, who was getting his haircut in the next chair, kept silent. When all was said and done, Kevin looked quite handsome.
When it was time to pay, he reached into his pocket and took out the cash my husband gave him. He handed it to her and said, “Thanks, it’s all yours.” I guess that’s the six-year-old equivalent (对应的语句) of “keep the change.”
I have to admit I was a little nervous about the whole thing before, but I’m a believer now. My son is growing up and ready for new big boy experiences.When Kevin got his haircut, the author used to .
| A．do her own thing | B．leave him alone |
| C．talk happily with her son | D．manage the whole thing |
What did the author’s husband do at the hairdresser’s?
| A．Picked out a hair style for his son. | B．Talked happily with the hairdressers. |
| C．Had his own haircut silently | D．Stood together with the author. |
What was the hair style that Kevin chose like?
| A．It was very strange. | B．It suited him well. |
| C．It was very bad. | D．It was more like a girl’s |
American doctors have been trying to figure out the secrets behind Asians being healthier than Americans since the early 90s - The Japan has the lowest mortality rates in the world and Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years, since around 2000 B.C. only meant that there's more to Asian health philosophy. In Asian medicine, there's an acknowledgment of the whole-body theory of medicine, instead of isolationism that's prevalent in many American doctor's offices.
The main reason behind a better health lies in the difference between Asian and American culture. Diet, exercise, and a holistic approach to medicine all contribute to Asians living longer and healthier than their American counterparts. In addition, the result of the Asian lifestyle has led to a stronger overall immune system and better detoxification（解毒） efficiency.
The more preferred drink in the American lifestyle is soda, beer or coffee. However, in Asian culture, the preferred drink is water or herbal tea. Consumption of water serves to immediately strengthen one's body detoxification program, since water dilutes toxins and helps flush the body. Americans savor red meat and pork, while most Asians prefer chicken, rice and fish. Also, the foods in Asia are mostly organic and lack the hormonal toxins that American food carries. Overall the Asian diet leads to less food-introduced toxins into the body, and allows the body to spend its energy on its immune system rather than toxin control. Also, the fish that Asians consume have very strong immunological effects, providing more antioxidants than the red meat preferred in America.
The average American family has more than one car. In Asia, on average there's 1 car per 4 families. In Asian cultures, people use bicycles more than four-wheeled transportation. The Asian lifestyle also involves more labor and physical work, such as agricultural labor and gardening. The American lifestyle praises white-collar jobs which lead to Americans sitting in front of computer screens for hours on end. Exercise helps detoxification in two ways: it speeds up metabolism, and induces sweat.
Medicine in Asia centers mostly on natural ingredients that have healing properties. Asian medicine also addresses the mind-body connection and the importance of mental balance. There are more traditional medicine doctors per person in Asia than in America. American medicine costs more and is symptom-focused, often ignoring the overall cause of the symptoms. In America, the prescriptions that are chemically derived are dangerous toxins that stress the body's detoxification system. Using Asian medicine means using only natural ingredients, which the body can easily detoxify while getting the same health benefit.
It is not very difficult to adopt the Asian lifestyle and improve your body's detoxification and immune system. You can change your lifestyle today by eating and drinking organic, exercising rigorously at least three times a week, and using organic health alternative therapies over dangerous prescription medicines.
Emma Deangela is the author of detox and fasting site at eDetoxify.com. Combining both Asian and Western philosophy, Emma Deangela has helped many people by giving them health consultation to make their lives better and healthier through natural health philosophy. Visit eDetoxify.com to discover the health philosophy that leads many people to a healthy life.According to the first paragraph, which theory is more popular among American doctors?
| A．whole-body theory | B．isolationism |
| C．Combined Theory of East and West | D．Not clearly mentioned. |
The differences between Asian and American culture are not discussed in _____
| A．Diet | B．Exercise | C．Medicine | D．Accidents |
“contribute to” in the second paragraph means _____.
| A．leads to | B．pay money to | C．agree on | D．result from |
From the third and fourth paragraphs, the writer thinks Asians live longer than Americans because ______.
| A．Asians don’t eat beef or mutton |
| B．Asians are good at catching fish |
| C．Asian lifestyle involves physical work more |
| D．Asians are not fond of office work |
The writer’s advice is put forward in the ____ paragraph.
| A．last | B．last but one | C．first | D．missing |
The passage is overall a(n)______.
| A．advertisement to a website | B．lecture to college students |
| C．magazine introduction | D．newspaper front-page |
August was one of the nastiest months I can remember: torrential rain; a hailstorm or two; cold, bitter winds; and mists. But we are accustomed to such weather in England. Lord Byron used to say that an English summer begins on July 31 and ends on Aug. 1. He called 1816 "the year without a summer." He spent it gazing across Lake Geneva, watching the storms, with 18-year-old Mary Shelley. The lightening flickering across the lake inspired her Frankenstein, the tale of the man-made monster galvanized into life by electricity.
This summer's atrocious weather tempted me to tease a Green whom I know. "Well, what about your weather theory now?" (One of the characteristics of Greens is that they know no history.) He replied: "Yes, this weather is unprecedented. England has never had such an August before. It's global warming, of course." That's the Greens' stock response to anything weather-related. Too much sun? "Global warming." Too little sun? "Global warming." Drought? "Global warming." Floods? "Global warming." Freezing cold? "Global warming."
I wish the great philosopher Sir Karl Popper were alive to denounce the unscientific nature of global warming. He was a student when Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity was first published and then successfully tested. Einstein said that for his theory to be valid it would have to pass three tests. "If," Einstein wrote to British scientist Sir Arthur Eddington, "it were proved that this effect does not exist in nature, then the whole theory would have to be abandoned."
The idea that human beings have changed and are changing the basic climate system of the Earth through their industrial activities and burning of fossil fuels--the essence of the Greens' theory of global warming--has not much basis in science. Global warming, like Marxism, is a political theory of actions, demanding compliance with its rules.
Those who buy in to global warming wish to drastically curb human economic and industrial activities, regardless of the consequences for people, especially the poor. If the theory's conclusions are accepted and agreed upon, the destructive results will be felt most severely in those states that adhere to the rule of law and will observe restrictions most faithfully. The global warming activists' target is the U.S. If America is driven to accept crippling restraints on its economy it will rapidly become unable to shoulder its burdens as the world's sole superpower and ultimate defender of human freedoms. We shall all suffer, however, as progress falters and then ceases and living standards decline. The writer of the passage is probably _______.
| A．one of the “Greens” |
| B．an American |
| C．not quite a believer in Global Warming |
| D．an environmentalist |
Which person(s), in the writer’s eyes, is the one he agrees with?
| A．Karl Marx | B．Sir Karl Popper | C．The Greens | D．Mary Shelley |
Sir Arthur Eddington could be inferred as a ______.
| A．politician | B．poet | C．Greenpeacer | D．physicist |
“denounce” in the third paragraph can be replaced by ______.
| A．announce | B．pronounce |
| C．speak out for | D．speak out against |
Which of the following is probably a good title for this article?
| A．Why Einstein’s Theory Stands the Tests. |
| B．Which Country the “Greens” Are Attacking? |
| C．Global Warming? I See Little Point. |
| D．The Climate in England and beyond. |
Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.
The First Theft:
The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.
The Most Famous Theft:
The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.
It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30×21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.
While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias’ apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.
The Biggest Theft in the USA:
The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.
As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime. How long did it take to put back the stolen Mona Lisa in Louver ?___
| A．Thirty six months | B．Thirty months |
| C．Half a year | D．Around two years |
What does the underlined sentence, “he tried to make the best out of his stolen good” mean?
| A．Chaudron wanted to sell the stolen painting. |
| B．Peruggia thought he didn’t need to work for Chaudon any more and wanted to market the painting. |
| C．Valfierno was tired of waiting. |
| D．Peruggia wanted to study the painting carefully. |
Which case among those mentioned in the passage is still a mystery?
| A．Mona Lisa case |
| B．Last Judgment case |
| C．Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum thirteen paintings case |
| D．none |
People from the country of _____ is not involved in the passage.
| A．China | B．France | C．Dutch | D．Vantican |
Which statement is WRONG according to this article?
| A．Picasso was ever considered a art theft suspect. |
| B．Art thieves normally not work alone. |
| C．The first documented case of art theft was conducted by pirates. |
| D．The mastermind of Mona Lisa was an art faker who wanted to sell copies. |
The passage is not finished, which subtitle could be the next?
| A．The Economic Value of Art Theft | B．The Loss to Art Lovers |
| C．The Most Sought After Painting | D．Boston Mob and French Art Dealers |
Most Americans would have a difficult time telling you, specifically, what the values are which Americans live by. They have never given the matter any thought.
Over the years I have introduced thousands of international visitors to life in the United States. This has caused me to try to look at Americans through the eyes of foreign visitors, I am confident that the values listed in this booklet describe most （but not all ）Americans, and that understanding these values can help you, the international visitor, understand Americans.
It is my belief that if foreign visitors really understand how deeply these 13 values are ingrained in Americans, they will then be able to understand 95% of American actions —actions which might otherwise appear “strange,”“ confusing,” or “unbelievable” when evaluated from the perspective （aspect） of the foreigner's own society and its values.
The different behaviors of a people or a culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions and values of that particular group. When you encounter （meet） an action, or hear a statement in the United States which surprises you, try to see it as an expression of one or more of the values listed in this booklet. An ordinary American can't tell you his / her value system because______.
| A．this is something an American lives by |
| B．everyone will have his/her own system |
| C．he/she has never thought about it |
| D．values are something often in their thought |
The author lists 13 values in his booklet to_____.
| A．invite foreigners to visit America |
| B．look at Americans through the eyes of foreign visitors |
| C．describe the confusing actions of most Americans |
| D．help international visitors understand Americans |
The underlined word “ingrained” in Line 2, Paragraph 3 most probably means ______.
| A．rooted in the minds | B．found in the grains |
| C．planted for food | D．prepared with grain |
Visitors sometimes find Americans behave in a strange, confusing or unbelievable way, probably because___.
| A．Americans are hard to understand |
| B．Americans have values which are entirely different from their own |
| C．they view Americans according to the values in their own society |
| D．it is difficult to understand any people when you first encounter them |
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